Secrets of longevity: scientists talked about the importance of one vitamin

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Genetic research by scientists from the University of Southern Australia showed a direct link between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of inflammation in the body. And when inflammation persists, it can contribute to a wide range of health problems. Among them are autoimmune diseases, as well as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which significantly shorten life.

The work of Australian scientists was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. In their study, they examined the genetic data of 294,970 participants in the UK Biobank. Scientists were interested in the relationship between the levels of vitamin D and the indicator of inflammation – C-reactive protein.

As the lead author of the study, Dr. Ang Zhou, notes, inflammation is the body's way of protecting body tissues in the event of injury or infection. But in some cases it becomes chronic. In response to inflammation, the liver produces C-reactive protein.

Ang Zhou points out that the study found a one-way relationship between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of C-reactive protein. “Increasing the level of vitamin D in people with vitamin D deficiency can reduce chronic inflammation, helping them avoid a number of co-morbidities,” adds the expert. As noted in the work, with adequate concentrations of vitamin D in the blood, the risk or severity of chronic diseases with an inflammatory component, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, may decrease.